Zubax Robotics presented its solution alongside 15 start-ups – selected from the winners of the country finals – at the grand final held in Prague. The competition was judged by a jury made up of corporate partners such as MOL Group, Rafako and EnerjiSA. Zubax Robotics was awarded a EUR 30 000 cash prize and a chance to join the prestigious EIT InnoEnergy Highway.

Zubax Robotics’s technology allows electric vehicles (especially aircraft) to travel further using less battery energy, alleviating one of the most significant obstacles in the way of total electrification of all kinds of transport.

Jakub Miler, CEO of EIT InnoEnergy Central Europe said: 'Since our launch, we have invested heavily in novel technologies. To date, over 90 products and services have been supported and 120 start-ups have brought their products to market. But we’re not stopping there, the quality of the innovative projects we’re seeing in CEE and further afield is exciting. Zubax Robotix is just one of those technologies – that can really help to push towards a clean energy future.'

Applicants to PowerUp! also participated in boot camp workshops to hone their ideas and develop skills to accelerate their businesses towards commercialisation – including professional mentoring during the competition. Runners-up include WellParko from Lithuania, who was awarded a EUR 10 000 prize, and Neuron Soundware from Czechia, who was awarded EUR 5 000.

Zsolt Winkler, Head of the Open Innovation Hub at MOL Group and a member of the jury, commented: 'PowerUp! feeds us with fresh, crisp ideas and solutions from across the region. We are proud to be sponsoring the event for the second time. As we transform our company, engaging with start-ups through competitions like this plays an extremely important role in our strategy.'

The country finals took place in Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece. The finalists were selected from 299 teams from the 24 Central European countries who applied to the competition.

About the EIT

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) is an independent body of the European Union set up in 2008 to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. The EIT brings together leading higher education institutions, research labs and companies to form dynamic cross-border partnerships – Innovation Communities - that develop innovative products and services, start new companies, and train a new generation of entrepreneurs.